Mats Zuccarello joined the New York Rangers during the 2010-11 season and went on to play 509 games in a Rangers uniform over nine seasons before he was dealt to the Dallas Stars ahead of the 2018-2019 trade deadline.
Nearly 24 hours after the trade Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist was asked about what Zuccarello meant to him both on and off the ice and what he’s meant to the team after spending nearly a decade together and the franchise’s all-time leader in nearly every goalie category couldn’t help but get choked up.
Lundqvist and Zuccarello are two of the remaining three players from the 2010-11 team, Marc Staal being the third, so it’s easy to see why the 2012 Vezina Trophy winner got so choked up about the question. Shortly after the trade became official, the Rangers goalie shared a heartfelt message about Zuccarello and their time together.
The Oslo, Norway native scored 113 goals and registered 352 points in 509 games with the Rangers and got off to a hot start with his new team as he picked up a goal and an assist in his debut. However, he ended up leaving the game with an upper body injury and did not return.
(H/T Twitter/MSGNetworks)
